Look at the minimum needed for the statistic: six innings pitched and three earned runs. That's a 4.50 ERA. What’s quality about that?

Even though the minimum wasn't happening the majority of the time — when a pitcher is racking up quality starts, it’s more often than not a very effective start, often brilliant — to some it still seemed phony.

In the Cubs' 14-3 win over the Pirates on Monday, Cubs starter Brett Anderson tossed six innings and gave up just one earned run. Was it quality? Depends on who you ask.

With two unearned runs and most glaringly six walks, you can understand why Anderson wasn’t about to stamp his outing as quality.

“Technically it was a quality start, but in my mind it wasn’t quality,” Anderson said. “I’d like to have a start where I don’t have to battle, grind and all those things of that nature.

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